Eparchial (Diocesan) Statement

The enthronement of new Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana will be performed at the Cathedral church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Zagreb on Sunday, 13 July 2014. His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch will serve the Solemn Hierarchal Liturgy at 9 a.m. with the concelebration of a great number of bishops of teh Serbian Church and other Local Churches, as well as clergy and monks and the faithful people. Following the Liturgy there will be a solemn introducing of the new Metropolitan of Zagreb-Ljubljana to the throne of Metropolitans of Zagreb-Ljubljana.

Representatives of the highest authorities of Croatia, Slovenia, Republic of Srpska and Serbia, Catholic Church and other Churches and religious communites are expected to come.

by the Grace of God
Bishop of the Metropolitanate of
Australia and New Zealand
The Serbian Orthodox Church

A joyous and blessed all Serbian Feast Day!

That all Serbian hearts
May be united with you,That the Sun of peace, love –May shine upon us all...
(Hymn to Saint Sava)

Our much beloved Clergy and Monastics, Sons and Daughters, Our dear Children of Saint Sava,

The Way of Saint Sava for us, beloved, constitutes that unique dimension of Orthodoxy amongst the Serbian people, wherein we follow the path of Saint Sava. Walking in his footsteps, he presents us with the possibility of both preserving our own identity and accepting new circumstances in life, as he unites us together in Christ and for Christ, and through Christ for the life of the world. This path is the Christlike way, the only real, true path, the path of true freedom, as we sing in the troparion of St. Sava, "the path that leads to life"!

The Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Metropolitanate) has made several attempts to resolve the litigation against the Free Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese for Australia and New Zealand Property Trust and its management over the St Sava Monastery in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

''We swear you by Almighty God that in no way should you detract from the worth, greatness and importance of our reconciliation. Let not one empty and unverified word pass over your mouths. Let our reconciliation be an example for all the other Serbs, wherever they may live. Do not allow any one of us by our actions to hinder this common sanctity. Our reconciliation has just begun. We have planted a young seedling which we need to nurture and cherish as the apple of the eye that it may grow to the pride of all'' (Metropolitan Iriney of New Gracanica - 19 February 1993).

During the past few weeks there appear a multitude of unverified, inaccurate and often malicious articles published on the internet related to the litigation in which the Serbian Orthodox Church is attempting to return to her fold the now usurped New Kalenich Monastery in Canberra.

In light of the same, the Metropolitan Executive Board of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church desires to emphasise the following:

Bishop Teodosije of Raska-Prizrena and Kosovo-Metohija strongly condemns the brutal crime in a village of Talinovac near Urosevac, in which two Serbian returnees were killed last night, spouses Milovan and Ljiljana Jevtic.

Bishop Teodosije appealed to the international representatives in Kosovo and local institutions as soon as possible to investigate this brutal crime and to provide the Serbs in Talinovac a peaceful, safe and dignified life. If the police also this time fails to find the perpetrators, as it was in the case with several other similar crimes against the Serbs, and we should mention the brutal murder of the family Stolic in Obilic in 2003., this latest crime will be another indication that the responsibility for this situation lies not only with individuals extremists, but also with the local Kosovar institutions. In this manner this institutions conceal, and often openly tolerate and encourage a violent and intolerant behavior toward Serb returnees.

The Serbian Orthodox Diocese for Australia and New Zealand New Gracanica Metropolitanate has announced today, with deep regret, that it intends to commence legal proceedings against the Free Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese for Australia and New Zealand Property Trust Limited for breaches of the terms of a charitable trust relating to the Property Trust's use of the St Sava New Kalenich Monastery in Wallaroo, NSW.

God is our refuge and power; a help in afflictions that severely befall us.
Therefore we will not fear when the earth is troubled.

Psalm 46;2-3

Our beloved spiritual children, dear brothers and sisters. Οnly a few months have passed since the horrific earthquake which hit Christchurch and New Zealand in September 2010. Even less time has passed since the earthquake in Kraljevo. We are still recovering from the floods, cyclones and bushfires which have swept over Queensland and Western Australia, and now another catastrophe has come upon us.